"Banking on Crime: The Allen Dorfman Saga"

Explore the thrilling underworld saga of Allen Dorfman, a man not born into the mafia, yet who became indispensable to its operations. "Banking on Crime: The Allen Dorfman Saga" unravels the complex web of mafia connections, massive embezzlement, and audacious corruption that Dorfman navigated as the mafia’s financial wizard. Delve into the gripping story of how Dorfman exploited the billion-dollar pension funds of the Teamsters Union, financed the glittering casinos of Las Vegas, and eventually faced the relentless pursuit of justice by the FBI. Each episode of this series dives deep into Dorfman's maneuvers within the mob's financial empire, featuring detailed accounts from the FBI's surveillance operations and courtroom dramas. Join us as we uncover how a World War II hero turned into a mafia banker, and how his life of crime led to one of the most significant crackdowns on organized crime in American history.(00:01) The FBI initiates a significant surveillance operation targeting Allen Dorfman, a non-mafioso who facilitated mafia operations through financial manipulations, specifically by embezzling from a billion-dollar pension fund.(02:58) By 1953, Allen Dorfman, leveraging his stepfather Paul Red Dorfman's mob connections, becomes deeply involved with the Teamsters Union's insurance and pension fund, greatly enriching himself and supporting mob interests in Las Vegas casino developments.(06:10) The 1957 U.S. Senate McClellan Committee investigates Dorfman and Hoffa's misuse of Teamsters' funds, but despite evidence of financial misconduct, including exorbitant overcharges and unreturned loans, legal constraints prevent immediate prosecution.(25:36) In 1978, the FBI intensifies efforts against Dorfman with Operation Pendorf, employing extensive wiretaps to uncover his ongoing criminal financial activities, leading to direct evidence of his involvement in major financial crimes including bribing a U.S. senator.(39:59) Dorfman's criminal activities catch up with him by 1982, leading to his conviction for conspiring to bribe Senator Howard Cannon. Despite his efforts to tamper with the jury, the evidence from wiretaps decisively contributes to his conviction.